NEPA--Environmental Assessment
NEPA--Environmental Assessment
NEPA--Environmental Assessment
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approximately 9,030 acres (28%) of the total BLM acres within project area are generally suitable<br />
for grazing (Figure 1-2).<br />
Resource Management Plans establish programmatic direction for the management of BLM lands.<br />
General Grazing Objectives in the RMP state: “Maintaining or improving the vegetation component<br />
of the ecosystem is key to enhancing the resource values of the planning area to permit a balanced<br />
mix of uses to ensure sustained yield. (p.5)”<br />
BLM policy directs the BLM to focus available funding and resources on those areas where<br />
problems and conflicts exist. The RMP places grazing allotments in one of three categories: “I”,<br />
Improve; “M”, Maintain; or “C”, Custodial. The allotments in this landscape are all considered “M”<br />
class - Maintain current satisfactory conditions - and will accordingly, receive attention as a second<br />
priority (RMP p.6).<br />
The RMP designates the BLM areas within the project boundary as emphasis areas:<br />
• A - Livestock Management – “Manage suitable vegetation types for increased, sustained livestock production. One<br />
goal is to improve range condition and productivity on native rangelands. Use improved management systems such<br />
as rest-rotation and deferred-rotation if appropriate…Develop AMP’s on 71 priority allotments. (p.27)”<br />
• C - Recreation – “Manage livestock under reduced intensity to utilize available forage and maintain plant vigor<br />
while not degrading recreation values…Manage livestock grazing to make it compatible with recreation use.<br />
(p.35)”<br />
• Kw - Municipal Watershed – “Manage suitable vegetation types under low to moderate intensity for livestock<br />
production with the intent to use available forage and maintain plant vigor. Reduce the number and/or season of use<br />
for livestock where needed to achieve soil and water program objectives. (p.55)” This Management Area is found<br />
within the project area boundary, but not within an active allotment.<br />
These are used as the foundation to compare the current conditions of allotments to the desired<br />
conditions for the allotments. The desired condition is then further defined at the project level (p.19).<br />
An examination of whether each applicable RMP direction item is being met can be found in the<br />
project record. A brief summary of that examination reveals that RMP direction is being met, or<br />
conditions are moving towards the described direction.<br />
Allotment Management Plans (AMP’s) and <strong>NEPA</strong> Analysis<br />
While the Forest Plan/RMP establishes the general suitability of an area for livestock grazing, the<br />
decision to authorize livestock grazing on a particular area of land is the outcome of a<br />
comprehensive, integrated resource analysis for the particular allotment(s). This analysis, conducted<br />
according to <strong>NEPA</strong>, is required in order to authorize livestock grazing on the project area, to<br />
prescribe site-specific management of the rangeland resources, and to ensure management is capable<br />
of meeting or moving toward desired conditions. Analysis and associated decisions made at this<br />
level are documented in an EA (such as this document) or an EIS and a decision document, and<br />
implemented through the permit, AMP, and annual operating instructions.<br />
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